In 2013, the BAFTA Awards ceremony on the U.K. public broadcaster's flagship network had drawn its highest TV ratings since 2004, reaching an average of 5.4 million viewers. That was below the 6 million audience for ITV period drama Mr Selfridge, starring Jeremy Piven, but up from 5.3 million in 2012.

The BAFTA Awards last year peaked with an audience of 6.2 million.

The ceremony drew an average of 5.2 million viewers in the 2011 overnight ratings and 3.6 million in 2010.

Hollywood turned out in force to the London awards ceremony Sunday to see Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave walk away with the top prize for best film.

But he was beaten for the best director award by self-confessed London “local lad” Alfonso Cuaron, who picked up that honor for Gravity, which also won five other awards.

American Hustle, with director David O. Russell and castmembers Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale among the attendees, won three BAFTA Awards, including one for best original screenplay for Eric Warren Singer and Russell, makeup/hair, and in the supporting actress category for Jennifer Lawrence.

The best acting awards went to Cate Blanchett for her role in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine and Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave.